Ermac, using all of his power, reached deep into Jade's psyche. Within her mind he saw a young girl dressed in emerald clothes pacing worriedly around the Edenian temple. The oddest thing is that this was the temple directly after Shao Kahn's invasion. There were still fresh corpses littered around the grounds and it wasn't quite as decrepit as the temple would become later on.

Ermac tried to approach her yet he faded through her. This girl looked remarkably like Jade, yet noticeably younger. She seemed to be three at most. That's when Ermac realized he was in a memory.

A lieutenant of Shao Kahn's army approached the girl. He was quick to notice the color of her clothes, green was the color of the Edenian royal guard. The girl stepped away from the guard out of fear that her fate would be similar to that of the rest of her family in the royal guard. The soldier offered out his hand as a sign of peace, "Come here, I won't hurt you."

She cautiously approached…until Shao Kahn stepped in between then, "What are you doing?"

"She's just a toddler, my emperor. What else can I do?"

The then-current emperor of Outworld had an idea, "We could integrate her into our forces, the Edenian royal guard happen to be some of the finest in all the realms. To have one with us, even if this young, would be superb. We can train her."

The guard agreed, "That's what I was thinking." Again the guard offered his hand, "Who are you, little girl?"

"J-Jade," she answered shyly. She took his hand, knowing that it was the only way she might survive these events.

The memory faded into another one, Jade was now a teenager training within the Outworld training yard with other soldiers. A fellow soldier walked up to her, "Jade, the emperor wishes to speak with you personally." Jade saluted him and marched off to Shao Kahn's throne room.

Shao Kahn greeted her, "Ahhh, I see you've got my message. Come, I have an assignment for you."

"What assignment?"

"You are to become the personal guard to the princess, who has just turned 13," Shao Kahn informed her. She nodded but Shao Kahn raised his finger, "and if she is to ever find out what happened to Edenia, you must assassinate her." Jade thought of it as another job, nothing more, nothing less so she agreed to those terms. Yet as time went on, Jade and Kitana became best friends so when the time came…Jade couldn't do it.

The memories faded away and that's when Ermac saw the present Jade standing in the black void of her mind mournfully. He approached her, "At last I've found you."

She looked to him, "Why didn't you tell me who I was? You knew."

"Shao Kahn told us not to, as his creation we are obliged to follow his will," Ermac answered truthfully, "and now that you know, we will…"

"You're going to have to kill me, right," Jade finished, "the very same assignment I was assigned with Kitana…but you already saw that."

Ermac sighed, "We don't want to kill you. And there's no reason to hate our master, Shao Kahn is a different man now. He has changed this realm for the better."

Jade shook her head, "He's not different…he's still the same he's ever been. You should know this since he put me into this coma!"

"He…he did," Ermac asked confusingly, "he said it was the work of Kotal Kahn's men."

Jade confirmed it by showing the memory, "Shao Kahn lied to you, Ermac. He doesn't care about Edenia nor does he care about you…he only seeks one thing and that's power."

The construct simply couldn't believe this. Shao Kahn had lied to him? Surely there must have been a good reason for why but instead of explaining, he went right for brute force. At least he didn't kill her, right? That's an improvement, isn't it? Ermac held his head, "We were made to serve him! Without that, we have no purpose!"

Jade placed her hand on his shoulder, "Yes you do. You're not Shao Kahn's lackey."

"Then what are we?"

"You're Ermac," she stated, "You're your own man. Even if you are many souls, that doesn't mean you can't be an individual. So tell me, what do you want to be?"

Ermac looked into the black void of Jade's mind, "…we think it's time you woke up." His eyes were alight with green surging energy as he pulled both himself and her out of the mindscape. Jade had awoken, "Huh…? You actually woke me up?"

"That's why we went in there," Ermac said in a manner of fact kind of tone, "we weren't coming out unless you came out with us."

She smirked and jokingly said, "Well aren't you the sweetest?"

He rubbed the back of his neck, "Errrr…it's what friends are for after all."

She quickly got serious, "So what are you going to do?"

"We…we don't know. Just give Shao Kahn some more time," he answered,
"we don't want to jeopardize what he has built up. The Edenian people are happy again. It's too soon to drag them into a rebellion."

She looked out the window of the throne room to see a bustling village with plenty of happy citizens walking throughout it, "You know what? You're right. Let's let these people live their lives…for now."

The next day was the beginning of something big. The Mortal Kombat tournament to defend Outworld was to begin. Kotal Kahn waited anxiously for it to begin, as did the Dragon King. The Outworld Colosseum would be where the first fight would be held. Crowds from across the realms gathered to their seats. This was the first time Earthrealm ever attempted such a hostile tactic, it was most unusual.

Onaga sat down in the center of the arena, where Shao Kahn used to sit so many years ago, "Nothing Raiden could bring can possibly stand up to my immortal army."

Kotal took his side by his monarch, "You seem awfully confident."

Onaga leered to his cohort, "I have every reason to be. He doesn't stand a chance."

"May the Elder Gods be with us this day," he whispered to himself.

Onaga overheard him, "The Elder Gods have no say in what transpires today! I don't need them!"

It did not take much longer until Raiden entered the stadium. He approached but then paused when he saw who Kotal Kahn was sitting next to, "It cannot be!"

Onaga got up from his throne and met with his opponent, "It is. It's been a long time, Raiden."

"You're supposed to be dead! Shao Kahn poisoned you," Raiden fearfully denied, "how are you here?!"

"And you're supposed to be good," the Dragon King retorted, "is that fear I see in your eyes?"

Raiden grimaced at him, "I'm not scared of you! I will do anything to protect my realm!" Standing behind him were the revenants and an entire cyborg army. Onaga snickered, "Is that all you've got? I was hoping for a challenge."

Onaga signaled to the arena, summoning his immortal army from within the gates. They outnumbered Raiden's army by a wide margin. Again the Dragon King bragged, "You had better up your game if you wish to win."

Raiden's head was spinning, what was a certain victory was now slipping out of his grip. "You…you can't use them for the tournament! They're undead and not mortal! You're breaking the rules!"

"And you're resurrected zombies aren't the same thing," Onaga quickly reminded him, "As if the title Mortal Kombat ever meant anything."

Raiden tugged at his collar, "I…I…" Kotal Kahn feared for his realm, but he almost felt Onaga being resurrected was near worth it just for his feeling of schadenfreude at the moment.

Onaga presented his hand, "I'll offer you a deal, Raiden. I'll let this whole tournament thing slip by if you just give me what I want."

Raiden growled, "Never! Attack!" The revenants attacked yet the cyborgs remained still. Triborg stepped away from Raiden's side and onto Onaga's side, "Sorry, boss. You've been generous…but I don't play for the losing side." Lightning shot out from Raiden in wrath, "You traitor!"

Onaga solely deflected the lightning like it was nothing, "Face it Raiden, you've got nothing left."

That's when Sub-Zero, Fujin, Jax, Sonya, and Johnny Cage leapt out into the battlegrounds. Fujin called out to his former friend, "Raiden! You need these!" Fujin pulled out the Kamidogu within his possession…yet one was missing! The Edenian Kamidogu was gone! The one he most desperately needed to save Raiden was gone!

Onaga's attention turned to the Kamidogu, "Such limitless power…I need them…"

Johnny questioned Fujin, "I thought we were trying to stop Raiden, not work with him."

"As of right now, Onaga takes greater priority! Maybe even greater than that is locating the Edenian Kamidogu!"

The immortal army along with the now realigned cyborgs took charge at the Earthrealm heroes. It was an uneasy alliance to be sure, yet a necessary one if the Dragon King was to be stopped. Things at first seemed bright for the heroes as Onaga's army was quick to go down…that was until Onaga resurrected them again.

Raiden decided to try and take on the Dragon King himself! He went in with a kick which barely affected the monstrous emperor. Onaga grabbed Raiden by the face and tossed him aside. Soon the other Earthrealmers turned their attention to Onaga! He was the source of the army's power! If they took him out, then the army would fall with him!

Jax went in with an uppercut, Sonya roundhouse kicked him in the face, Sub-Zero froze him by the legs, Johnny spirit kicked him, and finally Fujin used a gust of wind to slam him into the wall. In spite of their best efforts, Onaga got back up. Now was the zombies' turn! Liu Kang started it out with a bicycle kick, Kabal continued it with by stabbing Onaga in the shoulders with his hook swords, Kitana's heel went right into the undying monster's eye, Stryker lobbed a grenade right into his chest, Sindel's screams sent him flying, and finally Kung Lao's hat sliced his throat. Onaga fell again…but not for long at he flew into the air and slammed onto the ground, sending everybody onto the ground.

Fujin's attention turned to Kotal Kahn, "Call out your men! We can finish him together! I know we can!" Against his better judgement, Kotal agreed and shook the wind god's hand. He whistled, calling forth Erron Black, Sheeva, Skarlet, Ferra, and Torr. Erron rolled sand grenades under Onaga, sending him into the air. This left him open for Skarlet to kick him from behind with a teleporting kick. She even left a couple of kunai lodged into his back. Up next was Sheeva who used her might to repeatedly slam Onaga into the ground and she then tossed him over to Ferra and Torr. Torr used his hands to crush Onaga's rib cage and Ferra spat in his eye. After that Kotal Kahn finished him off by absorbing the power of the sun and throwing his fist right through Onaga's stomach and twisting. After this third assault, Onaga's army fell over into piles of dust.

The nightmare was seemingly over. Onaga was deceased…at least it seemed that way. Baffling everybody, Onaga still stood back up, angrier than ever.

"I tire of these games! Earthrealm and the Kamidogu will belong to me!" He then pointed to Kotal Kahn, "And you! You are just like Shao Kahn, a miserable little traitor who will earn a traitor's death, along with the rest of you! It's clear you can't be trusted! None of this wretched realm can be!" He swooped over to the Kamidogu, now lying on the dirt floor, and picked them up, "I must admit you did a number on me, however. I'm in no condition to fight now…but another day will come when you will get your just desserts!" Onaga took off with the Kamidogu in his grasp, leaving a disorganized mess in his wake.

"…well now what," Jax wondered out lowd. Fujin shook his head, "I don't know…I simply don't know."

Trouble would not be over as out from the retreating crowds another threat arose. It was recognizable to everyone there. It was Shao Kahn! Fujin's head twisted to Shao Kahn, "What are you doing here?"

"I've come to claim what I went through Earthrealm and now here for," he answered. He slowly approached Raiden's passed out body and tore his head clean off. The wind god picked himself up from his limpness and was ready to attack him, "You fool! We could have saved him!"

"It is what the Elder Gods wanted," Shao Kahn retorted, "if it wasn't, they would have stopped me like they have before."

He was right. Fujin knew this. Why didn't they stop him? Was Raiden's death something the Elder God's really willed? It seemed as if it was so he stood down, at least for now.

"Is that all you came for? To claim revenge," Fujin asked of Shao Kahn.

"Of course not," Shao Kahn answered, "I've come here to lead you all."

Sonya stood up to the king of Edenia, "What makes you think that we'd listen to you?"

Shao Kahn gestured to the entire arena, "Look at the mess that listening to both Fujin and Kotal Kahn got you! You need me! I'm the strongest leader currently here!"

Johnny pulled his ex-wife back, "He's got a point. The guy still seems skeevy to me, but uhhhhh…I don't know if we have any other options."

"Fair enough," she begrudgingly acknowledged, "I guess we have no choice."

Shao Kahn folded his hands in a pleased manner, "Good, good. And I can offer a safe haven to Kotal Kahn and his men in the form of Edenia. They will surely be hunted down here, so it's only for the best."

Kotal squinted at Shao Kahn, "Why wouldn't we just go to Earthrealm?"

"Isn't that where'd they'd expect you to go?"

"He's right you know," Erron pointed out. Kotal pushed the mercenary away, "Hush."

Shao Kahn waited for an answer, "Well?"

Yet again, desperate times called for desperate measures so Kotal settled for Shao Kahn's offer, "Very well."

He gesticulated to Sheeva, Skarlet, Erron, Ferra, and Torr, "Come along!" Both former emperors of Outworld left the arena to return to Edenia.

When they were gone Kuai asked, "Are we really going to work with Shao Kahn?"

Fujin nodded, "I'm afraid so. It is the Elder Gods' will."

"We should get back to Earthrealm," Jax reminded them, "before Outworld forces show up to get us."

Fujin approved, "We should get going. Onaga will pay for this day!" Fujin motioned to a piece of flat debris on the ground, "Hop on! I will take us to the nearest portal!"

Everyone hopped on except for Sub-Zero. "Aren't you coming," Fujin asked with a bit of concern.

"Please go on," Kuai insisted, "there's something I need to do here. It's…important. I'll return to Earthrealm shortly." Fujin used a wind current to pick him and the platform the others were standing on away.

Alone in Outworld, Sub-Zero looked to the purple sky of the realm, "This is home of my ancestors. They must have left something here I need to know more about them."

Yet he was not as alone as he first thought as he heard someone in the arena, "Who's there?!" Standing above her corpse was Kitana's spirit. She was holding something, though. What he saw was the Edenian Kamidogu! He huffed, "You…you're the one who stole it?!"

She looked away in shame, "I needed it!"

"Taking it jeopardized the plan!"

"The plan to purify Raiden," she asked coyly, "oh like that would have helped. Onaga still being alive put an end to that idea quickly. It wouldn't have helped."

He frowned, "You're not wrong, it wouldn't have but stealing it without telling Fujin was a bad idea."

She took ill to Sub-Zero saying that, "I know how powerful these things are. Fujin carrying all of them at once was foolish anyway, which you saw when Onaga stole them right out from under him! If I didn't take this, he'd be one step closer to having them all!"

"You're right," he admitted, "I suppose it was a good thing you stole it. Why do you even need it?"

She told him, "I'm going to purify my corpse, allowing me to reenter it. I'll finally be alive again." After that, she drove the dagger into the body, healing its wounds and removing the evil Raiden had instilled into it. Kitana's spirit flew into the corpse, merging both body and mind to resurrect her. She arose, "It…it worked! I'm alive again."

Liang looked her over, "Your clothes aren't in the best condition, though." She shrugged, "I don't care as long as I'm alive that's all that matters. And I don't feel any corruption anymore…it's so nice."

He smiled at her, "I'm happy for you, but I should be on my way. I'll see you later, Kitana."

"You're not just going to go alone," Kitana inquired, feeling a little worried over him. He paused right at the entrance to the arena, "Are you asking me if you can come along?"

She waved her hand in a dismissive manner, "I'm not asking you anything, I'm just saying it's a bad idea to go looking around here alone."

He shrugged, "If you say so." He continued on his way out, alone. It did not take long for Kitana to trail after him, "You can't honestly expect to make it in this realm alone."

Again, Sub-Zero stopped, "I've already dragged many people down with me. My clan, Hanzo, and I refuse to let anybody else be included on that list."

"And I don't take no for an answer," she stubbornly replied, "I know this realm since I spent most of my life in it. I can guide you."

He raised his and turned her down, "The group back in Earthrealm needs all the help it can get. Go with them if you want to help somebody."

She shook her head, "And see Shao Kahn again? I'll delay that as much as I can. I insist I come." Kuai finally broke down and allowed her to follow along, "Very well. Where is the snowiest area of this realm?"

She pointed up to the mountains, "The peaks up there are in a constant blizzard. That's the place you want."

He turned his attention to those mountains, "Then that's where we shall go." The two blue clad heroes departed for the mountains of Outworld, to search for what remains of the once great Cryomancer civilization.

Onaga returned to his throne room clutching his wounded stomach. His new advisor, Triborg, followed in with him. He sat in his throne, "Traitors, the lot of them…you even betrayed your master. How can I trust you?"

"If you keep winning, I'll keep staying," Triborg answered candidly. Onaga groaned in pain, "Urgh…at least I've got the Kamidogu! Now all I need is the amulet and…"

When he took a good look at the Kamidogu, he was furious! The Edenian Kamidogu wasn't there! He snarled angrily, "That's another one missing!"

Noob Saibot rose up out of a black puddle, "So you've got most of the Kamidogu how utterly delightful!"

Triborg recognized Noob, "Bi-Han?" Noob turned to him, "I don't go by that name anymore, Sektor."

"And I no longer go by that name," Triborg countered. Noob smirked, "Then we are even. It's good to see you again either way."

Onaga looked to Noob, "You know him?" Noob confirmed he did, "Yes, we were both members of the Lin Kuei in a previous life. I always did like how ruthless he was."

Triborg bowed graciously, "Same to you, Noob."

Onaga's eyes shifted between the two of them, "I see…then perhaps you both can be of assistance to me. The Edenian Kamidogu is missing. I need somebody to locate it along with the amulet! Only then can I take control of the realms!"

Noob kneeled before the Outwordian sovereign, "I will locate it." Onaga's frown did not change, "I do hope you aren't planning a betrayal. It's such an old thing to pull at this point."

"Remember the oath I made," Noob reminded him, "I swore to bring you the Kamidogu and I am a man of my word. I will bring both the amulet and the last Kamidogu to you, just as promised."

Onaga still felt leery about trusting Noob but at this point he proved himself to be the most loyal person he had on hand at the moment. Triborg asked, "What will you do with me?"

"Have your robot men scout Earthrealm for what I desire," Onaga demanded, "the Brotherhood of Shadow can search the Netherrealm and this realm. They could be in any realm, we can't be too careful."

Noob obeyed willingly, "The Brotherhood will not stop until we have everything needed."

Triborg had just one more question, "This plan is good and all but what about Shao Kahn?"

"I'll handle him personally," Onaga replied with a scowl forming upon his face, "I want to see his face when I take over the realms and ascend beyond godhood! Then I'll wipe him out of existence with a mere snap of my fingers!"

"Your grudge will be the end of this," Noob replied to him, "if we don't take care of him soon then this plan won't work."

"We? I never implied you'd be involved in Shao Kahn's death," Onaga said back to his servant, "only I can kill him."

Noob crossed his arms defiantly, "And I'm just saying that could prove fatal to you." The Dragon King's scowl became worse the more Noob questioned him, "Do you not think I can take Shao Kahn alone?"

"You're putting words in my mouth," Noob countered, "I never implied such a thing, but I am suggesting it's a possibility. Shao Kahn could strike before you even have all the Kamidogu."

Onaga derided such an idea, "I could still take him, even without them!" Triborg and Noob gazed at each other and then to the emperor nervously. Again Noob bowed, "I'm sorry to have ever doubted you."

Onaga was most pleased by his change in attitude, "That's what I like to hear. You're both dismissed."

Feeling dejected, Noob sank through the floor in the same black puddle he entered and Triborg marched out the door. Onaga stroked his chin in consideration, "Both of them are possible traitors to the empire, I can feel it. I must have them assassinated when their task is complete."

Paranoia flooded the Dragon King's mind. Anyone at any time could be out to get him! Not him! Not again! As such, he got up from his throne and slammed the entryway shut and locked it up tight. Not only that but he had the windows barricaded as well! Still not quite content with the protection, he decided a spike pit that circled the room would be in his best interests.

He paced nervously around the room, "Yes, yes, a spike pit would be perfect. Not only that, but all windows must be rid of! And the room must be magically sealed off to prevent any teleporters from getting their grubby hands on my throne!"

With a plan in his mind, Onaga knew he had to get to work on it quickly! No would-be traitor or assassin would kill the great Dragon King, not again, not ever! His rule over Outworld will last for an eternity!